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By BOB BRESENHAN, JR., COUNCILMAN, CITY OF RAHWAY (NJ)

June 28, 2017 at 3:50 PM

Rahway, N.J.–In a statement issued this morning, Rahway City Councilman Bob Bresenhan urges New Jersey voters take immediate action today and call their legislators telling them to vote "NO" on NJ bill S-4 (Vitale). This bill ultimately seeks to raid the profits of New Jersey's number one health insurer Horizon to "fix" New jerseys budget problem. "Take 5 minutes out of your day today to stop these 'Trump-Care" style tactics in Trenton by Chris Christie and his allies seeking to raid the coffers of Horizon", said Bresenhan.

Time is of the essence as the New Jersey state senate votes tomorrow, June 29, 2017, on S-4, a measure that will forever set a new precedence with the government telling a company how much money they may hold in reserve. "Today's it's Horizon who coffers the Governor and allies are looking at. Whose coffers will be the next target of Governor Christie and the legislature, Vitale's Sign Shop (owned by Senator Joe Vitale) or Kennedy Jewelers (owned by Assemblyman Jim Kennedy) or some other well run business showing a profit? Where does it end once this Pandoras box is opened?" concluded Bresenhan. "Basically stealing from HORIZON or any business is not the answer to New Jersey's budget woes." Approval of this bill this will set a bad precedence and could ultimately end up being used and abused as a tool in the future for NJ governors and legislatures to raid companies and their assets, profits, and so on to fix NJ's budget problems. If approved this will be a short term fix that will have far reaching and long term implications and could be the start of the demise of Horizon, our major healthcare insurer in the state of New Jersey.

PHIL MURPHY SAYS NO TO S-4
Appearing earlier Sunday in New Brunswick before the Working Families Alliance, Democratic gubernatorial nominee Phil Murphy bemoaned a budget-tied raid of Horizon as proposed by Governor Chris Christie. “It’s the inside trading of favors,” Murphy said. “It is just jaw dropping. You’re seeing it play out right now the governor is the chief steward."

NJ BUSINESS & INDUSTRY SAYS NO TO S-4NJBIA President & CEO Michele N. Siekerka issued this statement Monday regarding S. 4, affecting the capital reserves of Horizon BCBS of New Jersey. The legislation was introduced Friday and is before the Senate Budget & Appropriations Committee this afternoon.

“The New Jersey Business & Industry Association remains opposed to any legislation that appropriates funds from Horizon’s capital reserves, which under nationally followed best practices, are meant to protect Horizon’s 3.8 million policyholders.

“This is money that New Jersey businesses and policyholders have paid in premiums, and it must be kept in reserve to pay future healthcare bills. It is inappropriate to divert Horizon policyholders’ money to pay for other state programs.

“With all the uncertainty in Washington right now about the possible repeal of the Affordable Care Act and the impact of that on New Jersey’s healthcare marketplace, this is certainly not the time to rush through any plan that could jeopardize Horizon’s ability to pay future claims or put its policyholders at risk for higher premiums.”

NJ CHAMBER OF COMMERCE SAYS NO TO S-4

“We strongly urge Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto to hold the line and not post this bill for consideration at this time,” Tom Bracken, head of the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce, today beseeched the sitting speaker. “The NJ Chamber realizes that by not passing this legislation there is the potential of a government shutdown. The shutdown will be temporary. The negative impact of this legislation will be permanent. It will cause businesses to shut down, jobs to be lost, significant economic distress and serve as a blow to our state’s reputation as ‘business-friendly.'”

Horizon officials report that apparently Senator Vitale withheld amendments on the bill to the last minute, and have compared his "secretive process" to what Senate Republicans led by Mitch McConnell in Washington did on drafting the bill seeking repeal of Obamacare. Horizon spokesman Kevin McArdle reported in a statement "We found his bill on the Legislature's website at 7 p.m. on a Friday," The bill "needs to be defeated," McArdle said. "Horizon is always willing to work with anyone to improve access to affordable care, but we support the elected leaders on both sides of the aisle, and our business, consumer, and labor leaders who have said that any effort to single out and politicize Horizon during 11th hour budget talks is wrong."

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to announce that plans are moving forward for a group of three intersection safety improvement projects on East Front Street (County Road 620) and 7th Avenue (County Road 601) in the City of Plainfield. The work will include new traffic signals with audible pedestrian signals and push buttons.

The federally funded upgrades are designed to ...

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to announce that plans are moving forward ...

Chilly but bright and dry weather is expected to draw many visitors to Union County parks this weekend. As always there is something for everyone to enjoy, highlighted by the celebratory opening of Union County’s new Warinanco Dog Park.

“We are constantly looking for new opportunities for our residents and visitors to participate in community recreation, and the new Warinanco Dog Park is a ...

Chilly but bright and dry weather is expected to draw many visitors to Union County parks this ...

Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi is pleased to announce that the free 2019 Election Date Calendar is now available. The new Arts & Sciences in Union County calendar provides all important dates and deadlines for the 2019 election cycle, along with full page illustrations highlighting history-making people, places and milestones in Union County.

Linda Yianolatos, Author of eight children’s books is teaching children valuable life lessons in her “Crystal City” children’s books series. In her new book, “The Fairy Trail Room”, four cousins are taken by Red Carpet to another Crystal City building. There they meet the beautiful lady in the long white dress who takes them to the Fairy Trail Room. Once in the room they meet fairies and gnomes ...

Linda Yianolatos, Author of eight children’s books is teaching children valuable life lessons in ...

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to announce the launch of the new UC Night at the Theatre grant program for high schools. As part of Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados’s Moving Union County Forward initiative, the new program aims to help cover the costs of high school theatre productions and provide arts enrichment for the community at large.

“High school students ...

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to announce the launch of the new UC Night ...

Union County residents seeking information about services for seniors age 60 and older can visit one-on-one with staff from the county’s Department of Human Services, Division on Aging, at five convenient locations in December as part of the ASK – Aging Services Kiosk program.

Union County is in the midst of an opioid crisis. According to the latest data by the Union County Prosecutor’s Office, there have been 267 overdoses and 79 overdose fatalities in Union County. These high numbers of overdoses and fatalities are why establishing narcan trainings and providing kits to Union County community members is so vital and important.

The effectiveness of providing narcan ...

Union County is in the midst of an opioid crisis. According to the latest data by the Union County ...

In many cases here in America, the zip code you're born into may have the ability to determine your future. Sometimes these divisions exist mere miles from each other, in zip codes that are just one number apart. However, The Gateway Family YMCA believes everyone deserves the same opportunities, no matter who you are or where you’re from.

The Y is committed to helping bridge these gaps ...

In many cases here in America, the zip code you're born into may have the ability to determine your ...

On Friday, November 30, Saturday, December 1 and Sunday, December 2, visit the Holiday Sound and Light Show, an extravaganza of HO scale model trains with easy viewing for all ages. Shows are running on all three days.

The event takes place at the A. Paul Mallery Railroad Center, conveniently located off Route 22 in Union ...